Brothers Through Christ

GOLDEN TEXT: “Above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” —Colossians 3:14

PHILEMON 1-16

IN THIS lesson there comes to light one of the most heart gripping human interest stories of all time. Briefly the setting is this: Philemon was a wealthy Christian in Colosse. He received his knowledge of the Gospel from Paul, and the Colossian church held their meetings in his home. As was not unusual in those days, Philemon was a slave owner. Onesimus, one of his slaves, escaped from his Master and went to Rome. Possibly he had met Paul in his Master’s home, and knowing that he was a prisoner in Rome, sought him out for help. In any event, under Paul’s preaching Onesimus accepted Christ and dedicated himself to the Gospel. Paul’s letter to Philemon requests that he now receive his former slave as a brother in Christ.

Some very interesting facts are revealed by this story, especially in the light of present-day attitudes toward slavery. In several of his epistles Paul reveals what he believed to be the proper Christian position at that time. In Ephesians 6:5,8,9 we read, “Servants [Greek, ‘slaves’] be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ.” “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forebearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”

All of Paul’s references to this delicate relationship between the brethren, some of whom were masters and some slaves, are along the same line. Deep down in his heart doubtless Paul wished that slavery could have been abolished. At the same time, he knew that he had not been commissioned by the Holy Spirit to campaign against this, or against any of the other evils of society. It was his business as an ambassador of Christ simply to preach the Gospel, and to encourage those who accepted it to make the best of the circumstances imposed upon them by the social order in which they lived.

And, as Paul saw it, making the best of this situation was for Christian masters to treat their believing slaves as brethren in Christ; and for the believing slaves likewise to consider their masters as brethren, and to serve them faithfully, as unto the Lord. Thus each, in the practice of true Christian love, would receive the experiences necessary to be properly trained for the future kingdom work of righting all the wrongs that have been inflicted upon the people throughout the reign of sin and death, even to setting free the captives of death.

It was in keeping with this approach to the problem of slavery that Paul wrote to Philemon requesting him to receive Onesimus as a brother. In his letter Paul sets forth a true example of Christian brotherhood. The Revised Standard Version translates verses 8 and 9 to read, “Though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus.”

As an apostle, Paul had the authority to command Philemon to “do what is required,” just as Philemon, under the social laws then in vogue, had the authority to command his slaves, and to punish them for disobedience. But Paul wanted Philemon to see and practice the better way, the way of brotherly love, so he wrote, “I prefer to appeal to you,” rather than to command. Paul continued, “I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. … I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.”—vss. 10-12, RSV

It would seem impossible for Philemon to ignore an appeal so genuine as this. But Paul continues, “I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the Gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness not be by compulsion but of your own free will.”—vss. 13,14, RSV

It would seem that Philemon was one of the few wealthy Christians of his day, and was ministering to Paul’s needs while in prison. His offer of help must have been such that Paul felt he could have kept Onesimus as a servant without defrauding his master. But this would have been forcing the issue, which Paul did not wish to do. He wanted Philemon voluntarily to receive Onesimus and treat him as a brother. Thus the great apostle reveals his interest in both slave and master. He desired to see them both filled with and controlled by the spirit of true Christian love. “Love never faileth,” Paul wrote. (I Cor. 13:8) In this case he expected love to cut through the customs of the day, and bring Onesimus and Philemon together as brethren in Christ. We believe it did!

QUESTIONS

Relate the background of Paul’s letter to Philemon.

How did Paul deal with the question of slavery in his day?

Why did Paul refrain from commanding Philemon to receive his former slave as a brother in Christ?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |